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Glite Dictionary
nasal concha

nasal concha

1 8.4
A thin curved bone inside the nose that helps warm and filter the air
  • noun
  • /ˈneɪzəl ˈkɒŋkə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : concha nasal
  • The anatomy professor highlighted the function of the nasal concha in increasing the surface area for air filtration.
  • inferior nasal concha

Examples

  • Her history was significant for surgery to reduce the inferior nasal concha 10 years earlier.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Our patient had undergone an operation involving the inferior nasal concha 10 years earlier, but we do not know whether she experienced damage to the ethmoid region during that operation.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The surgeon explained that the nasal concha helps filter air as it enters the nasal cavity.

  • During the examination, the doctor noted that the nasal concha appeared inflamed.

Synonyms

concha
vsnasal concha
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A part of the ear or nose that is shaped like a shell

is more specific referring to the thin curved bones that increase air filtration
turbinal
vsnasal concha
  • Specialized
9.9

A thin curved bone inside the nose that helps warm, moisten and filter air

is the technical anatomical name for those same bones

Surface Forms

nasal concha singular
nasal conchae plural

Morphology

nasal + concha

The meaning is directly compositionally derived from 'nasal' (relating to the nose) + 'concha' (a shell-shaped structure), so together they describe a shell-shaped structure in the nasal cavity. Although anatomical and somewhat technical, the components transparently indicate the concept, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The noun nasal concha comes from an old word for 'shell' because the thin, curved bones look like small shells inside the nose. Nasal means the nose and concha means 'shell', and these shell-like bones help warm and clean the air you breathe.